Paint roller and sleeve



Sept. 26, 1961v F. N. CANING ET A1. 3,001,220

PAINT ROLLER AND SLEEVE Filed Aug. ll, 1958 ice ich.

Filed Aug. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 754,195 8 maints. (Cl. )l5-241i) This invention relates to paint rollers and particularly pertains to an applicator sleeve which is removably mounted on the roller wheel.

Paint rollers and removable sleeves have been employed heretofore to facilitate the application of paint to surfaces, however, the several devices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design and construction, expensive to manufacture, and diiiicult to maintain in proper use condition.

With the foregoing in View, the primary object of the invention is to provide a paint roller sleeve which is simple in design and construction, in expensive to manufacture, and easy to keep in proper use condition.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamping tube as the supporting base for the sleeve which is force expandable to slip over the paint roller wheel so as to clamp thereon by the tension produced in expanding the tube.

An object of the invention is to provide a cylindrical synthetic resin foam paint applicator pad bonded on said tube.

An object of the invention is to make the applicator sleeve with a smaller inside diameter than the paint roller wheel upon which the sleeve is to be mounted so that when the sleeve is forced over the paint roller wheel, the tube is tensionally sprung and the pad is placed under a circumferential tension so that both the tube and the pad provide spring force to grip the paint roller wheel.

An object of the invention is to stretch the radial inner area of the applicator pad so as to place the pad under tension thereby making the pad denser in its inner area by the reduction of its open `foam structure.

An object of the invention is to expand the pad from the inside radially outwardly so as to compact the pad adjacent the tube thereby making it more Vdense than normal so as to provide a firm supporting body for the relatively soft foam structure of the pad in the outer area.

An object of the invention is theinterior radially outwardly the `supporting tube so that to expand the pad from bythe action of expanding the density of the pad, and tension placed in the pad diminishes radially outwardly.

An object of the invention is to `utilize the tension built up in expanding the pad to assist the tension spring action of the tube to grip the paint roller wheel to hold the tube and pad thereon.

An object of the invention is to provide a longitudinally split sleeve which can be overlapped, butted, and or jointed as desired.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a paint roller demountable sleeve embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a with the novel sleeve.

lFIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view partly in paint roller equipped cross-section of the device seen in 1FIG. 1, taken on line 2-2 thereof showing the tube overlapped and diagrammatically showing the pad tension in concentric circles and showing the compacted density in reduced interstices.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the wheel in cross-section with a modified tube having a butted and a sealing tension member disposed over the tube split. t.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of :another form of applicator sleeve tube and the pad in unstressed condition with a sealing member slidably disposed over the tube split.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal fore-shortened cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken on the line 5--5 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing still another form of tube overlapped and olf-set.

FIG. 7 is a showing of a modified typ-e of paint roller wheel in perspective View showing two separate end wheels.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals `refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the sev-r eral views, the paint roller sleeve disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises a supporting tube 10 which is longitudinally split at 11 so that the tube 10 is capable of being torsionally circumferentially enlarged so as `to be force fitted over a paint roller wheel 12 andthe synthetic resin foam paint applicator pad 13 is bonded to the tube 10 as by the layer 14 which is shown in enlarged dimension for the purpose of clarity. The tube may be overlapped as at 31 or a closure strip 15 is longiudinally attached to the tube 10 as at 16 so as to cover the split 11 toV prevent paint from entering the roller wheel 12 area when the tube 1li is expanded at the split 11.

More particularly the internal diameter of the tube 10 is less than the outside diameter of the roller Wheel 12 so that whenV thetube 11i is forced over the roller wheel 12 a separation occurs at the split 11 and a tension is built up in the tube 10 to form a gripping clamping force in the tube 11i relative to the roller wheel .12 `and under this condition a gap 17 occurs in the tube 10 and the overlap or protective strip 15 covers this gap to prevent the movement of `paint therethrough. The strip 15 can be attached at one side as at 16 or can be made of the same material as the tube 10 and slide therewith or it can be made of resilient material 19, FIG. 3, or connected at both sides such as at 20 so that tension is built 'up in the member 19 to assist the tube clamping on the wheel. However, as in the FIGURES 1 and 6, it has been found that by overlapping the walls of the tube 10 and 10A that the pressure built up in the clamping relatonship relative to the wheel prevents leakage between the overlapping portion 21, 22 and 31. When off-set overlapping is employed it has been found advisable to relieve the periphery 23 of the Wheel 24 as to 25 to receive the overlapped portion 21 and this assists in prevention of relative rotation between the sleeve and the roller wheel.

FIG. 2 shows a thin tube 10 overlapped. without offset as at 31 and it is to be noted that due to the easy displacement of the foam or sponge pad material that the overlap does not cause any distortion in the outer periphery of the pad. It is also to be noted that when the sleeve is mounted on the roller wheel the pad 13 is tensioned with the tension being concentrated adjacent the radial Iinner `portion fof the pad and diminishing out'- wardly as indicated by the concentric circles adjacent the tube diminishing radially outwardly and it is also to be noted that the oriiices or interstices of the foam pad are smaller adjacent the tube 10 because of the tension placed in the material of the pad and that the foam oriiices increase in size radially outwardly.

The pad stretching is greatest adjacent the tube and the pad stretching diminishes radially outwardly from the tube to a point substantially midway in the radial extent of the pad. This causes the pad to increase in density adjacent the tube with the density diminishing radially outwardly with the dense area adjacent the tube lending support to the unstressed less dense radially outer area to prevent lapping of the pad material in rolling and to expel the paint radially outwardly.

The inventive paint roller sleeve with these features constitutes a compact, durable, and neat appearing paint applicator easily operated to mount on a roller wheel and very inexpensive as far as manufacturing and maintenance is concerned.

Although but a few embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail and arrangements of the various elements of the invention within the scope of appended claims.

We claim:

l. A paint applicator sleeve for a paint roller wheel comprising a support and clamping tube having an inside face and an outside face; said inside face being adapted to slide torceably over a paint roller wheel in gripping relationship thereto; a cylindrical resin foam paint applicator pad disposed over said tube outside face and bonded thereto; said tube internal diameter when unmounted being less than the paint roller wheel outside diameter to be received therein; said tube being split longitudinally for circumferentially tensionally expanding said tube to receive ya paint roller wheel therein in forced engagement therewith to hold said sleeve on a paint roller -wheel in clam-ping relationship, said cylindrical pad circumferentially resiliently tensionally stretching with said tube particularly in the arca of said pad adjacent said tube when said tube is lforceably circumferentially expanded; said pad stretching being greatest adjacent said tube and diminishing radially outwardly therefrom to a point approximately mid-way of the radial extent of said pad; said pad resiliently stretching producing a tension in said pad to augment the clamping force of said tube on a paint roller wheel; said pad in stretching causing said pad to become more dense adjacent said tube with the density diminishing radially outwardly with the diminishing of the tensional stretching; said -dense area of said pad adjacent said tube lending support to the unstressed radially outer area of said pad especially under paint rolling stresses so as to prevent lapping of the soft foam and to expel the paint radially outwardly toward a surface being painted; said tube being overlapped in the area of its longitudinal split.

2. A paint applicator sleeve for a paint roller wheel comprising a support and clamping tube having an inside face `and an outside face; said inside face being adapted to slide forceably over a paint roller-wheel in gripping relationship thereto; a cylindrical resin foam paint applicator ypad disposed over said tube outside face and bonded thereto; said tube linternal diameter when unmounted being lless than the paint roller wheel outside diameter to be received therein; said tube being split longitudinally for circumferentially tensionally expanding said tube to receive a paint roller Wheel therein :in forced engagement therewith to hold said sleeve on a paint rol-ler wheel in clamping relationship, said cylindrical pad circumferentially resiliently tensionally stretching with said tube particularly in the area of said pad adjacent said tube when said tube is vforceably circumferentially expanded; said pad stretching being ygreatest adjacent said tube and diminishing radially outwardly therefrom to a point approximately mid-way of the radial extent of said pad; said pad resiliently stretching producing a tension in said pad to augment the clamping force of said tube on a paint roller wheel; said pad in stretching causing said pad to become more dense adjacent said tube with the density diminishing radially outwardly with .the diminishing of the tensional stretching; said dense area of said pad adjacent said tube lending support to the unstressed radially outer `area of said pad especially under paint rolling stresses so as to prevent lapping of the soft foam and to expel the paint radially outwardly towar a surface being painted; and an expansion member covering said longitudinal split area of said tube.

3. A paint applicator sleeve for a paint roller wheel comprising a support and clamping tube having `an inside face and an outside face; said inside face being adapted to slide forceably over a paint roller Wheel in gripping relationship thereto; a cylindrical resin foam paint applicator pad disposed over said tube outside face and bonded thereto; said tube internal diameter when unmounted being less than the paint roller wheel outside diameter to be received therein; said tube being split longitudinally for circumferentially tensionally expanding said tube to receive a paint roller wheel therein in forced engagement therewith to hold said sleeve on a paint roller wheel in clamping relationship, said cylindrical pad circumferentially resiliently tensionally stretching with said tube particularly -in the -area of said pad adjacent said tube when said tube is forceably circumferentially expanded; said pad stretching being greatest adjacent said -tube and diminishing radially outwardly therefrom to `a point approximately mid-way of the radial extent of said pad; said pad resiliently stretching producing a tension in said pad to augment the clamping force of said tube on a paint roller wheel; said pad in stretching causing said pad to become more dense adjacent said tube with the density diminishing radially outwardly with the diminishing of the tensional stretching; said dense area of said pad `adjacent said tube lending support to the unstressed radially outer area of said pad especially under paint rolling stresses so as to prevent ylapping of the soft foam and to expel the paint radially outwardly toward a surface being painted; and a resilient expansion member attached to said tube at either side of the longitudinal split in said tube.

4. A paint roller and removable sleeve combination comprising a handle and axle assembly, at least one roller wheel on said axle, and a removable applicator sleeve comprising a support and clamping tube having an inside face and an outside face; 4said inside face being adapted to slide forceably over said roller wheel in gripping relationship thereto; a cylindrical `foam paint applicator pad disposed over said tube outside face and bonded thereto; said tube internal diameter when unmounted being less than said roller wheel outside diameter disposed therein; said tube being split longitudinally for circumferentially tensionally expanding said tube to receive and hold said roller wheel therein in forced engagement therewith to secure said sleeve on said roller wheel in clamping relationship, said cylindrical pad circumferentially resiliently tensionally stretching with the expansion of said tube particularly in the area of said pad adjacent said tube when said tube is forceably circumferentially expanded; said pad stretching being greatest adjacent said tube and diminishing radially outwardly therefrom to a point approximately mid-way of the radial extent of said pad; said pad resiliently stretching producing a tension in said pad to augment the clamping force of said tube on said roller wheel; said pad stretching causing said pad to become more dense adjacent said tube With the density diminishing radially outwardly with the diminishing of the tensional stretching; said more dense area of saidpad adjacent said tubelending support to the unstressed radially outer area of said pad especially under paint rolling stresses so as to prevent lapping of the soft foam and to expel the paint radially outwrdly tombefor interlocking with means on a said paint roller ward a surface being painted. wheel to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

5'111 addVi/ as set ffl 1in 4i 531g tube being References Cited in the le of this patent over appe m e area o 1 yongi na sp l 6. In |a device as set -forth in claim 4, an expansion 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS member covering said longitudinal split area of said tube. 2,373,900 Adams. June 25 1945 7. In a device as set forth in claim 4, a resilient exya Chef "Iguy i0 i956 pansion member attached to said tube at either side of ames ov' 8' 958 the longitudinal split in said tube. lo FOREIGN PATENTS 8. In a device as set forth in claim 4, means on said 191,612 Germany Apr. 28, 1907 

